Overlook Neighborhood Update (Jan. 19)

1) PBOT requests input about Greeley

The Portland Bureau of Transportation is sending letters to residents along the Greeley corridor requesting input on the creation of a temporary bus lane. The letter describes the project, which would create a temporary designated southbound bus lane on Greeley 6-9 a.m. in order to decrease delays with the #35 bus from Rosa Parks to Killingsworth and to encourage more people to ride the bus.

This proposed project is part of a larger push to increase traffic throughput on Greeley and improve multi-modal transportation along the Willamette Boulevard corridor. We encourage all residents to share their thoughts about the proposal with PBOT.

If you are interested in addressing transportation issues in North Portland, the next OKNA Transportation Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Overlook House. Please contact info@overlook.org if you have any questions or are interested in participating in the committee.

2) Congestion pricing on I-5 open house (Jan. 27)

The Oregon Department of Transportation invites public input on the use of congestion pricing to help improve travel times and reliability on Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 in the Portland metro area.

The public is invited to share their experiences with congestion and views on congestion pricing at three upcoming open houses. The one in Multnomah County will be at the Lloyd Center on Jan. 27.

Congestion pricing, also known as value pricing or variable rate tolling, refers to tolling options that are specifically designed to improve traffic flow. Congestion pricing systems charge higher prices for driving on a road when demand is greater, in the morning and evening rush hours, for example. Some drivers choose to travel on other routes, at different times of the day or on other modes of transportation.

The open houses will be informal, drop-in events with ODOT project team members stationed throughout the room to provide materials, discuss the options and answer questions.

A second phase of public input will take place in March, which will focus on specific concepts being considered for development of congestion pricing on I-5 and I-205.